Dispensing carton



July 11, 1961 M. J. coE

DISPENSING CARTON Filed May 7, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a; 7:2 -4: Z2 M, 2 N /0 I Z v 3 M [I rJ/ n 1 Z6 "WW1 HHHHHH INVENTOR. Mer/"fl/ c/ (02,

Burg/$4M United States Patent i corporation of Delaware Filed May 7, 1953, Ser. No. 733,627 8 Claims. (Cl. 221-305) This invention relates to a dispensing carton adapted to contain a stack of cups or like receptacles and permitting the withdrawal of the cups one by one.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a dispensing container Well adapted for packaging receptacles in commercial size packages and iacilitating the dispensing or withdrawal of the receptacles one by one as use occasion may require.

Second, to provide a container or car-ton having these advantages which may be supplied to the cup or receptacle manufacturer in the knock-down and one in which a stack of receptacles may be readily inserted and the container closed for shipment or storage or other handling.

Third, to provide a container having these advantages which may, and desirably is, formed of a single blank of standard type of container stock.

Fourth, to provide a "dispensing container having these several advantages which may be economically produced and is capable of withstanding rough handling and is strong and rigid when erected in proportion to the gauge structural material used.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing container embodying my invention in dispensing position, the bottom end closures being removed and with a receptacle projecting from the bottom of the container, a stack of receptacles being indicated as visible through the window.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section of the container in closed position with a stack of cups therein.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view partially in vertical section illustrating certain structural details and a step in the erecting thereof, certain parts being shown conventionally.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating parts in dispensing position, that is, in the position of parts when the stack of receptacles have been drawn to the discharge end, one receptacle being shown in grasping position as shown in FIG. 1 the closed position of the bottom of the container being illustrated in closed position by dotted lines.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the blank in extended or flat position.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view partially in vertical section illustrating another form or embodiment of my invention, receptacles being illustrated therein to show the general relation of these parts.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section corresponding to that of FIG. 6 with a receptacle in dispensing position.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of the blank of the embodiment of my invention shown in FIG. 6-.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive is formed of an integral blank comprising four side walls designated generally by the numerals 1, 2, 3 and 4, the side wall 1 being provided with a window 5 desirably provided with plastic closure, however, the detail thereof is not shown as it forms no part of this invention.

The wall 1 comprises the top panel 6 and bottom panel 7; the side wall 2 comprises the top panel 8 and bottom panel 9; the side wall 3 comp-rises the top panel 10 and Patented July 11, 1961 bottom panel 11; the side wall 4 comprises the top panel 12 and the bottom panel '13. The panels 12 and 13 are .provided with sealing flaps 14 and 15 respectively, which are lapped upon the inner side of the panels 10 and 11 and fixedly secured thereto.

The upper and lower wall panels, or what might be called the upper and lower wall sections of the container, are connected at their adjacent ends by coupling members which also constitute receptacle retaining members or receptacle dispensing holders and are normally disposed in a downwardly and inwardly directed relation. These coupling and receptacle retainingmembers, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive, comprise opposed pairs of retaining inner elements 16 which are hingedly and springably connected to the bottom edges of the top wall panels by the scores 17, and opposed pairs of outer retaining elements 18 which are hingedly connected to the upper edges of the corresponding bottom wall panel, and a pair of outer retaining elements 19 hingedly connected to the upper edges of the other bottom panels, the elements 19 being desirably transversely scored at 20. The outer retaining elements are hingedly connected to the corresponding inner retaining element 16 at 21. The purpose of this scoring at 20 is to further increase the springability of these elements of the retaining members.

It will be understood that the scores connecting the retaining elements to. their connected parts are such as to insure folding or bending along predetermined lines and at the same time provide resiliency or springability.

When the container is fully erected as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 these retaining members project inwardly and downwardly and serve as connecting means for the upper and lower wall panels as well as providing receptacle retaining means. Cups 22 are illustrated as being provided with rims 23. The inner retainer members 16 are desirably provided with vertically spaced series of corrugations 24 which are spaced to engage the rims of the cups or other packaged receptacles so that they may be withdrawn one by one; this holding engagement is illustrated in FIG. 4. a

These containers are provided with end closures, the upper end closures comprising the flap 25 on the wall panel 6, the outer closure 26 on the top panel 3 which is provided wtih a tucking flap 27. The top panel 4 is provided witha hanger 28 which also serves as a closure flap when the carton is completely closed. This hanger member comprises the inner section 29 secured to the panel 4 by the score lines 30, the outer section 31 foldable on the section 29 and provided with a tucking flap 32. The hanger member has perforations 33 therein adapted to receive a nail or like support.

The bottom panel 7 is provided with a closure flap 34 and the bottom panel 9 with a full dimensioned closure flap 35 provided with a tucking flap 36.

In the modification shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 the outer retaining elements 37 have tongues 38 struck outwardly and downwardly therefrom instead of its being folded at 20. Otherwise the structure is the same as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive.

It will be noted that the edges of these retaining elements are recessed as indicated at 40-41 to provide clearance when the retaining members are in their normal downwardly and inwardly inclined position.

Dispensing containers embodying my invention may be made in varying sizes and dimensions to accommodate difierent sizes and types and quantities of receptacles and when closed the contents are well protected although it is quite common practice, as is the case with other types of containers, to provide a sealed outer wrapper. In use the bottom closure flaps 34 and 35 are usually torn olf on 3 their scored connection or foldable connection to the bottom wall panels 7 and 9 and the top closures are opened so that the hanger may be adjusted to use position and the top flaps 25 and 26 again closed. The receptacles can then be removed one by one merely by pulling on the lower end of the bottom receptacle. taining means springably grips the receptacles so that they are separably retained when the pull is exerted on the bottom receptacle of the stack.

I have indicated the folding lines by scores for the various parts conventionally at 40 although this number is not applied to all of these scores inasmuch as this conventional illustration of the scoring is common in the container art.

I have not attempted to illustrate various embodiments or adaptations of my invention which may be desirable for particular use conditions as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt the invention as may be desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible dispensing container for nestable receptacles formed of an integral cut and scored blank and comprising side walls hingedly connected to permit c01- lapsing of the container, each side wall including an upper panel and a lower panel, coacting springable receptacle retaining panel coupling members disposed in downwardly and inwardly projecting relation to the side walls when the container is in erected position, said members each comprising an inner element springably connected to the lower end of an upper wall panel by transverse score and projecting downwardly and inwardly therefrom, and an outer element springably connected to the upper end of the corresponding lower wall panel by a transverse score and projecting downwardly and inwardly therefrom at the outer side of the corresponding inner element, the inner ends of said elements being foldably connected to each other, said receptacle retaining members when the container is erected coacting to hold the wall panels in their complementary relation, said container being provided with top and bottom closure members, one of the top closure members being perforated to provide a support engaging hanger member.

2. A collapsible dispensing container for nestable receptacles formed of an integral cut and scored blank and comprising side walls hingedly connected to permit collapsing of the container, each side wall including an upper panel and a lower panel, coacting springable receptacle retaining panel coupling members disposed in downwardly and inwardly projecting relation to the side walls when the container is in erected position, said members each comprising an inner element springably connected to the lower end of an upper wall panel by transverse score and projecting downwardly and inwardly therefrom, and an outer element springably connected to the upper end of the corresponding lower wall panel by a transverse score and projecting downwardly and inwardly therefrom at the outer side of the corresponding inner element, the inner ends of said elements being foldably connected to each other, said receptacle retaining members when the container is erected coacting to hold the wall panels in their complementary relation, said container being provided with top and bottom closure members.

3. A collapsible dispensing container for nestable receptacles formed of an integral cut and scored blank and comprising side walls hingedly connected to permit col- 7 lapsing of the container, each side wall including an upper panel and a lower panel, coacting springable receptacle retaining panel coupling members disposed in downwardly and inwardly projecting relation to the side walls when the container is in erected position, said members each comprising an inner element springably connected to the lower end of an upper wall panel by transverse score and projecting downwardly and inwardly therefrom, and'an The re-- outer element springably connected to the upper end of the corresponding lower wall panel by a transverse score and projecting downwardly and inwardly therefrom at the outer side of the corresponding inner element, the inner ends of said elements being foldably connected to each other, said receptacle retaining members when the container is erected coacting to hold the Wall panels in their complementary relation.

4. A dispensing container for nestable articles comprising side walls hingedly connected to permit collapsing of the container, each side wall including an upper panel and a lower panel, coacting springable article retaining panel coupling members disposed in downwardly and inwardly projecting relation relative to the side walls when the container is in erected position, said members each comprising an inner element springably connected to and projecting downwardly and inwardly from the lower end of an upper wall panel and an outer element springably connected to and projecting downwardly and inwardly from the upper end of the corresponding lower wall panel at the outer side of the corresponding inner element, the inner ends of said elements being foldably connected, said article retaining members when the container is erected coacting to hold the wall panels in their complementary relation to each other, said container being provided with bottom and top closure members, one of the top closure members being adapted to constitute a support engaging hanger member.

5. A dispensing container for nestable articles comprising side walls hingedly connected to permit collapsing of the container, each side wall including an upper panel and a lower panel, coacting springable article retaining panel coupling members disposed in downwardly and inwardly projecting relation relative to the side walls when the container is in erected position, said members each comprising an inner element springably connected to and projecting downwardly and inwardly from the lower end of an upper wall panel and an outer element springably connected to and projecting downwardly and inwardly from the upper end of the corresponding lower wall panel at the outer side of the corresponding inner element, the inner ends of said elements being foldably connected, said article retaining members when the container is erected coacting to hold the wall panels in their complementary relation to each other.

6. A dispensing container for nestable articles comprising side walls hingedly connected to permit collapsing of the container, each side wall including an upper panel and a lower panel, coacting springable article retaining panel coupling members disposed in downwardly and inwardly projecting relation relative to the side walls when the container is in erected position, said members each comprising an inner element springably connected to and projecting downwardly and inwardly from the lower end of an upper wall panel and an outer element springably connected to and projecting downwardly and inwardly from the upper end of the corresponding lower wall panel at the outer side of the corresponding inner element, the inner ends of said elements being foldably connected, at least an opposed pair of said retaining elements being transversely corrugated, said retaining members being inwardly tapered providing clearance therefor relative to the side walls between which they are disposed.

7. A dispensing container for nestable articles comprising side walls hingedly connected to permit collapsing of the container, each side wall including an upper panel and a lower panel, coacting springable article retaining panel coupling members disposed in downwardly and inwardly projecting relation relative to the side walls when the container is in erected position, said members each comprising an inner element springably connected to and projecting downwardly and inwardly from the lower end fromthe upper end of the corresponding lower wall panel at the outer side of the corresponding inner element, the inner ends of said elements being foldably connected, at least an opposed pair of said retaining elements being transversely corrugated.

8. A dispensing container for nestab le articles comprising side walls hingedly connected to permit collapsing of the container, each side wall including an upper panel and a lower panel, coacting springable article retaining members disposed in downwardly and inwardly projecting relation relative to the side walls when the container is in erected position, said members each comprising an inner element springably connected to and projecting downwardly and inwardly from the lower end of an upper wall panel and an outer element springably connected to and projecting downwardly and inwardly from the upper 6 end of the corresponding lower wall panel at the outer side of the corresponding inner element, the inner ends of said elements being foldably conneoted, said retaining members being inwardly tapered providing clearance therefor relative to the side walls between which they are disposed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,346,792 Bergman July 13, 1920 1,429,701 Stephens Sept. 19, 1922 2,216,323 Ringler Oct. 1, 1940 2,335,914 Buttery Dec. 7, 1943 2,339,383 Davidson Jan. 18, 1944 2,349,074 Buttermann May 16, 1944 

